Essentials
- Power
- 120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets
- City
- Spokane, Washington, United States
- Population
- Approximately 230,000 (Metro area 600,000)
- Internet Speed
- 95-150 Mbps; Fiber available via Quantum Fiber
- Currency & Banking
- US Dollar (USD). Major banks: Chase, Bank of America, Washington Trust Bank
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, sourced from the Spokane Valley-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer
- SIM Card
- T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T. Prepaid plans from $35/month at Target or Best Buy
- Banking for Expats
- Chase, Wells Fargo, or digital banks like Revolut and Wise
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Furnished Finder, and local property managers like Kiemle Hagood
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and mobile pay (Apple/Google) accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and VRBO. Avg. $120/night for central apartments
- Budget Accommodation
- The Historic Davenport (off-peak $160) or Ruby River Hotel ($110)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Downtown near Riverfront Park
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- South Hill (Manito Park area) or Browne's Addition
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Riverside State Park (15 mins from downtown)
- National Parks Nearby
- Glacier National Park (4.5 hours); Mount Rainier National Park (4.5 hours)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Centennial Trail (37 miles of paved path to Idaho border)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Cliff Park (Marycliff Overlook) for city skyline views
- Birdwatching Locations
- Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge (Cheney, WA - 25 mins away)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated pits at Liberty Lake Regional Park (Permit required)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- UPS Store (N Division St), FedEx Office, USPS Main Post Office (Riverside Ave)
- Tech Repair Services
- Gadget Fix (W Main St) for phones/laptops
- Table Tennis Spots
- Spokane Table Tennis Club (N Howard St)
- Language Classes
- Spokane Falls Community College (ESL and foreign language courses)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Spokane Central Library (recently renovated with podcast studios)
- Community Centers
- Southside Senior & Community Center
- Gaming Lounges
- Geeks n' Glory (11612 E Sprague); Retro arcade and drinks
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Northern Quest Resort & Casino (Airway Heights)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $4,200/m²; e.g., 45m² = $189,000
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $2,800/m²; e.g., 45m² = $126,000
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $3,800/m²; e.g., 65m² = $247,000
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $2,500/m²; e.g., 65m² = $162,500
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $3,500/m²; e.g., 90m² = $315,000
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $2,200/m²; e.g., 90m² = $198,000
- Corporate Tax
- No state corporate income tax in WA; Business & Occupation (B&O) tax on gross receipts (varies 0.471% - 1.5%)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% at state level (No state income tax in Washington)
- Tax System
- No State Income Tax; Federal income tax applies
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 37% (Federal level)
- VAT
- 9.0% (Combined State and Local Sales Tax)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable at the Federal US level (GILTI/Subpart F)
- Property Tax
- Yes, approx. 1.1% of assessed value annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) paid by seller (~1.1% to 3.0%)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- 0% State Income Tax makes it highly attractive for high-earning US residents
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Fellow Coworking (304 W Pacific Ave); Day pass $25, Monthly $225
- Best Cafe for Work
- Indaba Coffee (1425 W Broadway Ave) - great Wi-Fi and ample seating
- Networking Events
- Greater Spokane Inc. (GSI) business mixers and 'Spokane Tech' Meetup groups
- Social Events for Expats
- Spokane International Translation and Culture events; local adult sports leagues via Spokane Parks
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber and Lyft (widely available 24/7)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Lime electric bikes and scooters (Seasonal: March - November)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Boulder Beach on the Spokane River or Coeur d’Alene City Park Beach (35 mins away)
- Top Regional Airline
- Alaska Airlines (Hub: GEG - Spokane International)
- Top International Airline
- Delta or United (connecting via Seattle, Salt Lake City, or Denver)
- Highway Access
- Interstate 90 (East-West) and US-2/US-395 (North-South)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Spokane Intermodal Center (Amtrak Empire Builder and Greyhound)
- Public Transport Passes
- STA (Spokane Transit Authority) - $2.00 single ride, $60 monthly 'Connect' pass
- Regional Travel
- FlixBus or Amtrak to Seattle; 35-minute drive to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center (101 W 8th Ave)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Yoga Classroom (811 W 2nd Ave); Drop-in $20
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- MUV Fitness (Multiple locations); Monthly approx. $40-$60
- Laundry Services
- The Laundry (731 N Monroe St); Wash and fold approx. $1.50/lb
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- DoorDash, UberEats, and Treehouse Deliveries (local)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Huckleberry everything (pie, jam, or ice cream)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Boots Bakery & Lounge (24 W Main Ave); Casual vegan fare
- Best Dessert Spots
- Mary Lou's Milk Bottle (Garland District) - famous milkshakes
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- WinCo Foods for bulk groceries; My Fresh Basket for organics
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon (Major distribution center locally means fast delivery)
- Grocery Delivery
- Instacart and Walmart+ Delivery
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Davenport District (Post St) and the West End Beer District
- Local Brewery
- No-Li Brewhouse (1003 E Trent Ave)
- Wine Bars
- Nectar Wine and Beer (120 N Stevens St)
- Street Food Stalls
- Food Truck Fridays at Wall Street (Seasonal); Mixed plates $12-$15
- Popular International Cuisine
- Queen of Sheba (Ethiopian) in the Flour Mill
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Riverfront Park and the Spokane Falls Gondola ($12)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC) - $12 admission
- Historical Sites
- Campbell House (Classic 1898 mansion in Browne's Addition)
- Religious Sites
- St. John's Cathedral (Gothic architecture on South Hill)
- Annual Events
- Bloomsday Run (May) and Hoopfest (World's largest 3-on-3 basketball, June)
- Cultural Districts
- Garland Historical District (Vintage shops and indie cinema)
- Theater Venues
- First Interstate Center for the Arts and Bing Crosby Theater
- Local Markets
- Kendall Yard Night Market (Wednesdays, summer/early autumn)
- Music Scene
- Knitting Factory (919 W Sprague Ave) for touring bands
- Street Art
- Murals under the rail overpasses and throughout the Monroe St corridor
- Cooking Classes
- The Kitchen Engine (621 W Mallon Ave)
- Art Galleries
- Saranac Art Projects (Main Ave)
- Historic Buildings
- The Davenport Hotel Lobby (re-opened 2002, built 1914)
- Local Heritage
- Native American history focus at the MAC, honoring the Spokane Tribe